Enchanted Preludes for flute and cello (1988) | Compositions

Commission: Harry Santen
Dedication: For Ann Santen’s [50th] birthday
Buy Score: Hendon Music (Boosey & Hawkes)
Manuscripts: Paul Sacher Stiftung

Premiere: May 16, 1988/ Patricia Spencer (flute), Andre Emelianoff (cello)/ Merkin Hall, New York, NY

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Enchanted Preludes clip

Enchanted Preludes is a birthday present for Ann Santen, commissioned by her husband, Harry, and composed in gratitude for their enthusiastic and deeply caring support of American music. It is a duet for flute and cello in which the two instruments combine their different characters and musical materials into statements of varying moods. The title comes from a poem of Wallace Stevens: The Pure Good of Theory, “All the Preludes to Felicity,” stanza no.7:

Felicity, ah! Time is the hooded enemy,
The inimical music, the enchanted space
In which the enchanted preludes have their place.

The score was given its first performance by Patricia Spencer, flute, and André Emelianoff, cello, of the Da Capo Chamber Players in New York, on May 16, 1988.

– Elliott Carter

Recordings (14)

Carter: Enchanted Preludes for flute and cello
GPP Live Recordings (2024)
Giampaolo Pretto, flute | Fred Sherry, cello
Elliott Carter: The Complete String Quartets; 100th Anniversary Release
Naxos 8.503225 (2010)
Pacifica Quartet: Simin Ganatra, violin I; Sibbi Bernhardsson, violin II; Masumi Per Rostad, viola; Brandon Vamos, cello
Elliott Carter: 100th Anniversary Release
Naxos 8.559614 (2008)
New Music Concerts Ensemble, Robert Aitken, conductor | Max Christie, clarinet | David Hetherington, cello | Virgil Blackwell, bass clarinet | Fujiko Imajishi, violin | David Swan, piano
Chamber Music by Elliott Carter: Figments and Fragments
2L 2L-054-SACD (2008)
Johannes Martens, cello | Anders Nilsson, violin | Yi Yang, violin | Anders Rensvik, viola | Andjei Majewsk, clarinet | Tom Ottar Andreassen, flute | Joachim Kwetzinsky, piano
Happy Birthday, Elliott Carter!
Neos NEOS 10816 (2008)
Swiss Chamber Soloists
Elliott Carter: Oeuvres avec violoncelle
Assai 222602 (2004)
Alexis Descharmes, cello | Sébastien Vichard, piano & harpsichord | Jean-Luc Menet, flute | Mario Caroli, flute | Hélène Devilleneuve, oboe | Nicolas Baldeyrou, clarinet | Nicolas Miribel, Violin
Nieuw Ensemble: Homages & Dedications
Auvidis Montaigne MO 782089 (2003)
Nieuw Ensemble, Ed Spanjaard, conductor | Hans Wesseling, mandolin | Helenus de Rijke, guitar | Ernestine Stoop, harp | Herman Halewijn, vibraphone | Ad Welleman, trumpet (+19)
Nouvel Ensemble Moderne plays Elliott Carter
ATMA Classique (2002)
Caroline Lizotte, clarinet | Nouvel Ensemble Moderne | Lorraine Vaillancourt, conductor
Elliott Carter: Musique de chambre
Arion ARN 68495 (2000)
Patrick Gallois, flute | Maurice Bourgue, oboe | Michel Lethiec, clarinet | Amaury Wallez, bassoon | André Cazalet, horn | Claire Désert, piano | Gérard Poulet, violin (+1)
Ensemble Contrasts: Elliott Carter: Chamber Music for Winds
cpo 999 453-2 (1998)
Ensemble Contrasts | Michael Faust, flute | Christian Hommel, oboe | David Smeyers, clarinet | Volker Grewel, horn | Dag Jensen, bassoon | Michael Faust, flute (+11)
The Group for Contemporary Music: Elliott Carter: Eight Compositions (1948-1993)
Bridge Records BCD 9044 (1994)
Charles Neidich, clarinet | Harvey Sollberger, flute | Fred Sherry, cello | Rolf Schulte, violin | Martin Goldray, piano | David Starobin, guitar | Charles Wuorinen, piano
Da Capo Chamber Players: Perle/Carter
GM Recordings GM2020CD (1990)
Da Capo Chamber Players: Patricia Spencer, flute; Laura Flax, clarinet; Joel Lester, violin; Andre Emelianoff, cello; Sarah Rothenberg, piano
The California EAR Unit: Modern Chamber Ensemble Compositions
New Albion NA019 CD (1989)
Dorothy Stone, flute | Erika Duke, cello | Dorothy Stone, flute | Theresa Tunnicliff, clarinet | Dorothy Stone, flute | James Rohrig, bass clarinet | Robin Lorentz, violin (+1)
Thomas Demenga: J.S. Bach; Elliott Carter
ECM New Series 1391 (839 617-2) (1986)
Philippe Racine, flute | Ernesto Molinari, clarinet | Thomas Demenga, cello | Philippe Racine, flute | Hansheinz Schneeberger, violin | Philippe Racine, flute | Ernesto Molinari, clarinet (+3)